Last Wednesday (2/28), Sinclair Broadcast Group‘s legal counsel was joined by Tribune Media‘s legal counsel in a conference call with five key members of the FCC‘s Media Bureau at the Commission’s request.
The subject: MB Docket No. 17-179 — the formal name given to the review of Sinclair’s planned merger with Tribune.
The result of the call: Sinclair and Tribune are to “resubmit or amend” their applications filed in connection with the proceeding.
This is the result of a discussion over “FCC policies and procedures” tied to the merger.
The Media Bureau representatives on the call are:
- Barbara Kreisman, Chief, Video Division
- David Brown, Deputy Division Chief, Video Division
- Chris Robbins, Chief Transactions Counsel, Video Division
- David Roberts, Senior Attorney Advisor, Video Division
- Brendan Holland, Chief, Industry Analysis Division
They spoke with Miles Mason of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, counsel to Sinclair Broadcast Group, and Mace Rosenstein of Covington & Burling LLP, counsel to Tribune Media.
The filing was made with the FCC by Mason.
Under the proposed transaction initially filed with the FCC, the combined company would reach 72% of U.S. television households and would own and operate the largest number of broadcast television stations of any station group.
However, divestments are in the works.
With the “shot clock” stuck at Day 167 in its 180-day timeline since October 18 to allow for additional comment, the revised applications could finally rewind the clock — and bring Sinclair’s merger to finality.
RBR+TVBR RELATED READ:
WGN, WPIX APAs Filed … And Sinclair’s Very Much In Control
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